TL;DR: Dominant #H3N2 #influenza strain this year is new & the star of the season, with that part of the *trivalent* vax not a great match. HOWEVER, the vax is still doing its job of keeping most people out of the hospital.

Each year's vax helps build more diversity in your flu-attacking antibodies. You COULD get that by getting miserably sick every year but the jabs are much safer & give you exposure to 3 strains every year.

RE: https://flipboard.com/@npr/health-930k6cv1z/-/a-0gERmB5DSsifJqvaBD8SlQ%3Aa%3A3195441-%2F0

https://www.npr.org/2025/11/19/nx-s1-5607250/flu-season-h3n2-influenza-virus-shot